South Wales Fire and Rescue Service have published its Improvement Plan for 2010/2011, which for the first time alsoincorporates the Service Risk Reduction Plan for 2011/2012.    

The Improvement Plan 2010/2011 explains how the service is continuing to perform to high standards across all the vital services we provide to our communities in South Wales, and also outlines our plans and priorities for the forthcoming year. 

In the current economic climate public sector organisations face unprecedented financial challenges. South Wales Fire and Rescue Service are looking closely at the way things are done and planning to work 'smarter' to ensure both efficient and effective services are provided.    

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Kevin Barry said: "South Wales Fire and Rescue Service is held in high regard by the public it serves, due to the first class service is provides to our communities and the commitment and professionalism of its staff.   

"To continue to improve our service delivery to the communities that we serve we now need to seek new and innovative ways of working, whilst still maintaining our high standards of service delivery and still placing public safety at the heart of our decision making" he added.    

"Like every other publicly funded body, we must riseto the challenge of a reduction of public expenditure and explore how we can best cope with competing demands on our resources and I am confident that we will be able to rise to the challenges that face us as a publicly funded service." 

He concluded: "South Wales Fire and Rescue Service would like to express their sincere appreciation for all the hard work of our staff, elected members and partners. The service is delighted that its performance is still exceptionally high and we aim to build on these high standards to ensure that we will make out communities the safest places to live, work and visit". 

The plan is available on the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service website:www.southwales-fire.gov.uk or by contacting : Amanda Jenkins, Performance Planning, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters, Forest View Business Park, Llantrisant, CF72 8LX telephone 01443 232000 or email performance@southwales-fire.gov.uk